The Japanese names for Japan are Nippon and Nihon. Either name means "the sun's origin" or 'the Land of the Rising Sun'. The Japanese Emperor is believed to be the direct descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu. So, Japan referred to itself as 'the Land of the Rising Sun' in its Imperial correspondence with the Chinese Empire alluding Japan's eastern position relative to China.

How did Japan got Its name?

The Japanese word for Japan is 日本, which is pronounced Nippon and literally means "the origin of the sun". The English name of the country (Japan) came from the Chinese pronunciation of Nippon, Zeppen. These Early Portuguese traders spelled it as Giapan and later the name was simplified as Japan.

6,852 islands

Japan is made up of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku - make up about 97% of Japan's land area. Japan, teeming with 127 million people, is the world's tenth largest country by population.

Biggest metro

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is world's largest metropolitan city. The name 'Tokyo' means 'Eastern Capital' in Japanese. It was originally known as Edo (meaning 'estuary') and the name was changed to Tokyo when it became the imperial capital with the arrival of Emperor Meiji in 1868.

Kyoto

Kyoto (meaning "Capital City") was the Imperial capital of Japan for more than one thousand years before the capital was moved to Tokyo. About 20% of Japan's National Treasures and 14% of Important Cultural Properties exist in the city proper.

National bird of Japan

The green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor), also known as Japanese green pheasant, is native to the Japanese archipelago. It is the national bird of Japan. It can be hunted in Japan between November 15th and February 15th, by those in possession of a valid hunting license.

Oldest nation

Japan is the oldest nation in the world. 21% of the Japanese population is elderly, the highest proportion in the world. Japan has more than 50,000 people who are over 100 years old. It is the only country where adult diapers outsell baby diapers

Robots

In Japan, 98% of all adoptions were male adults, not children.
There is a highway in Japan that goes through buildings.
Japan is world's largest manufacturer and consumer of robots

Largest fish market

The fortune cookie dates back to the 19th century and was first made in Kyoto, Japan.
Japanese sake is made from fermented rice.
The world’s largest fish market, Tsukiji, is located in Tokyo.
Japan is world's largest foreign asset holde

Suicide

If someone commit suicide in Japan by jumping in front of a train, the family of the deceased will be charged a disruption fee.
Geisha means “person of the arts” and the first geisha were actually men.

Donald McDonald

Ronald McDonald is called Donald McDonald in Japan due to a lack of a clear ‘R’ sound in Japanese.
Sometimes the trains in Japan are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside.

Square watermelons

Square watermelons are grown by Japanese farmers for easier stack and store.
Japan has 5.52 million vending machines offering anything from soda to sex toys and live crabs.

Animation capital

Animated Japanese films and television shows (i.e.: Anime) account for 60% of the world’s animation-based entertainment. So successful is animation in Japan, that there are almost 130 voice-acting schools in the country.

Suicide forest

Aokigahara Forest is known for breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and suicides. Also called the Sea of Trees, it is world’s most popular place to take one’s life. About 300 suicides are reported per year and many go unrecorded.